Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham and UF alumnus Chris Hand told about 100 people Tuesday night that they have the power to change the government.
At Pugh Hall, Graham, Hand and UF faculty and staff discussed the second edition of their book, “America, the Owner's Manual: You Can Fight City Hall - and Win,” which was released in October. The 10-chapter book was written to encourage citizens to learn about and make a difference in their government.
“One of the things we hope to accomplish is to inspire students to be an active member in their community,” Hand said.
Many students learn about politics passively, he said, but participating in politics helps students see they can effect change.
“You have to build and flex your citizenship muscles,” he said.
At the end of the talk, Kylee Sipowski walked to the microphone to ask a question.
She asked Graham and Hand what could be done to ensure politics stays a part of middle- and high-school curricula. In her high school, she said, students only had to take one semester of government.
“It isn’t simple,” the 21-year-old UF public relations junior said. “If young students don’t learn how the game works, they’ll feel frustrated and underrepresented.”
Hand said a lack of political knowledge will affect other subjects, and in order for students to exercise their civic rights, they must understand them first.
“If we don’t learn those things,” he said, “all other disciplines will suffer at the end of the day.”
Chris Hand, a UF alumnus and attorney, signs copies of the second edition of “America, the Owner’s Manual: Making Government Work For You,” with the book’s co-author, former Florida Gov. Bob Graham.
